Setting of control information changing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A setting of control information changing apparatus having first and second operational components, a setting change device, and a switching device. The setting change device changes the setting of the first control information, for example, in response to the independent operation of the first operational component, and changes the setting of the second control information in response to simultaneous operation of both of the first and the second operational components. The switching device switches the operation of the setting change device between a possible condition in which the setting change of the first control information is possible and an impossible condition in which the setting change of the first control information is not possible. When the setting change device is in the impossible condition, the first control information is not changed if the first operational component is in operation, while the second control information can be changed by the simultaneous operation of the first and the second operational components. Therefore, changing operation of the undesirable control information is certainly prohibited.

This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/516,107 filed Aug. 17,1995 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information setting apparatus forsetting photographic information of a camera or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

In cameras or electronic still cameras, there are various controlinformation, such as shutter speed, diaphragm stop values, exposuremode, and the like, the settings of which can be changed by thephotographer. In recent years, the setting of the various types ofcontrol information in cameras has been changed by electricallydetecting the rotational amount and the direction of rotation of anoperation dial. However, to faciliate the operational of the dial, theoperational force of the dial is set to be relatively small. Therefore,if the photographer inadvertently touches the operation dial, he maychange the setting of the control information without intending to doso. The effects may be extreme if, contrary to the intentions of thephotographer, the shutter speed or the diaphragm values are changed. Theeffects may prevent a high quality picture from being taken or prevent apicture from being taken at all while the setting is changing to theadequate value. Therefore, a camera has been presented in which, aswitch is provided to select a valid mode or an invalid mode for theinformation setting operation using the operation dial and when aninvalid mode is selected, the setting change cannot be made by theoperation dial (As disclosed, for example, in Japanese Laid Open PatentPublication Heisei 2-210424.).

With the camera described above, in some cases, setting changes relatingto a plurality of control information can be accomplished by means of asingle operation dial. For example, the setting is changed in responseto the single operation of the operation dial for control informationthat must often be changed. Such control information include shutterspeed and diaphragm value. For control information that do not need tobe changed often, the setting is changed in response to the relatedoperation for example simultaneous operation of the operationalcomponent and the operation dial. Information that do not requirefrequent resetting include such information as the exposure mode and thephotometric range. In the latter case, if all of the setting changes ofvarious control information by the operation dial are uniformlyprohibited in response to the selection of an invalid mode forprohibiting the setting change only, one specific control information(such as shutter speed) can not be changed and and all other controlinformation are also prohibited from being changed, the result is adecline in operational deterioration. In the system described above,first types of control information are switched when the operation dialis operated independently, and second types of control information areswitched when the operation dial is operated in connection with otheroperational components. As a result, only one type of the control datais changed, even if the operations dial is touched inadvertently, andthe other type of control data will not be changed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A purpose of the present invention is to provide an information settingapparatus with superior operational capability relating to the settingchange operation of the control information.

The present invention achieves the purpose described above and others byemploying an information setting apparatus equipped with a firstoperational component and a second operational component that isdifferent from the first operational component. A setting change devicechanges the setting of first control information in response to theindependent operation of the first operational component, and changesthe setting of second control information, which is different from thefirst control information, in response to a specified related operationof the first operational component and the second operational component.A switching device can switch the operation of the setting change devicebetween a condition in which the setting change is possible and acondition in which the setting change is not possible. The settingchange device is able to target the setting change only of the firstcontrol information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an upper surface diagram of a camera related to a firstembodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of an LCD display panel ofthe camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing parts within the control system of acamera concerned with the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the setting change process accomplishedwith a controller shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a process for changing the exposure modesetting that follows from FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an alternative process that follows thatof FIG. 4, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing variations of FIG. 4 and FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are provided hereafter, as appliedto an electronic still camera, with reference to FIGS. 1 through 7.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is an upper surface diagram of a camera related to a firstembodiment according to the present invention. On the upper surface ofthe camera are located a release button 1, a command dial 2, asub-command dial 3 and an LCD display panel 4 respectively. When onlythe command dial 2 is rotated, the setting of the shutter speed ischanged. When only the sub-command dial 3 is rotated, the setting ofdiaphragm value is changed. As shown in FIG. 2, the settings of theshutter speed and the diaphragm value are displayed on the shutter speeddisplay segment 40 and the diaphragm display segment 41 of the LCDdisplay panel 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, a lock button 5, an exposure mode button 6, aphotometric mode button 7, an exposure compensation button 8 and asensitivity switch button 9 are located on the upper surface of thecamera. The lock button 5 is used together with the command dial 2 tocarry out the function of selecting the valid mode, which allows thesetting change, and the invalid mode, which prohibits changing thesetting of the data by the command dial 2.

If the command dial 2 is rotated while one of the buttons 6 through 9 ispushed, the setting conditions of the function designated by one of thebuttons 6 through 9 are changed in accordance with the operation of thecommand dial 2. For example, at the time when the exposure mode button 6is operated, the exposure mode is changed to the program automaticexposure mode (P mode), the shutter speed priority exposure mode (Smode), the diaphragm priority exposure mode (A mode) or the manualexposure mode (M mode) in due order. Similarly, the photometric rangechanges with the operation of the command dial 2 when the photometricmode button 7 is operated, the exposure compensation quantity changeswith the operation of the command dial 2 when the exposure correctionbutton 8 is operated, and the sensitivity of the photographic element(not shown) changes with operation of the command dial 2 when thesensitivity switching button 9 is operated.

As shown in FIG. 2, the setting conditions of the exposure mode,photometric range and the sensitivity are displayed by the exposure modedisplay segment 43, the photometric range display segment 44 and thesensitivity display segment 45 of the LCD display panel 4 respectively.The numerical code 46 is a lock display segment that displays whetherthe setting change of the shutter speed is possible or not. When thesetting change of the shutter speed cannot be effected by theoperational of the command dial 2 because the invalid mode is selectedby the lock button 5 described above, the lock mark, shown in thefigure, is displayed by the lock display segment 46 adjoining theshutter speed display segment 41.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the present inventionand its relation to the control system of the camera. Controller 10 inthe figure is composed of a micro-computer and peripheral componentssuch as a memory 10m. The controller 10 accomplishes the various typesof sequence control and the calculation control of the camera. A pulsegenerator 2p, which generates the pulse signals in accordance with therotation direction and rotation quantity of the command dial 2, a switch5s, which is turned ON in response to the push-in operation of the lockbutton 5, and a switch 6s, which is turned ON in response to thedepression of the exposure mode button 6 are connected to the controller10. The LCD display panel 4 is connected via a driver 4d. In addition,the command dial 2 is a click type command dial. The pulse generator 2pgenerates one pulse when the command dial 2 is rotated one click. Thecontroller 10 accomplishes the setting changes of the various types ofinformation and the display control of the LCD display panel 4, inaccordance with the single operation of the command dial 2 or thesub-command dial 3 described above, or through the connected operationwith the buttons 6 through 9.

In the illustrated embodiment, the camera controller is implemented as asingle special purpose integrated circuit (e.g., ASIC) having a main orcentral processor section for overall, system-level control, andseparate sections dedicated to performing various different specificcomputations, functions and other processes under control of the centralprocessor section. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat the controller can also be implemented using a plurality ofseparate dedicated or programmable integrated or other electroniccircuits or devices (e.g., hardwired electronic or logic circuits suchas discrete element circuits, or programmable logic devices such asPLDs, PLAs, PALs or the like). The controller can also be implementedusing a suitably programmed general purpose computer, e.g., amicroprocessor, microcontroller or other processor device (CPU or MPU),either alone or in conjunction with one or more peripheral (e.g.,integrated circuit) data and signal processing devices. In general, anydevice or assembly of devices on which a finite state machine capable ofimplementing the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4-7 can be used as thecontroller. As shown, a distributed processing architecture is preferredfor maximum data/signal processing capability and speed.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are flow charts showing the processes connected to theoperations of the command dial 2, the lock button 5 and the exposuremode button 6. Every time the command dial 2 is clicked one time, thecontroller 10, as shown in the diagrams, carries out the processes.First, at step S101 (FIG. 4), it is determined whether the exposure modebutton 6 is in operation by judging the ON or OFF condition of theswitch 6s. If the operation of the exposure mode button 6 is not inprocess, the controller advances to step S102. At this step, it isdetermined whether the lock button 5 is in operation by judging the ONand OFF function of the switch 5s. If the operation continues, it isdetermined in step S103 whether the valid mode has been set before thelock button 5 is pressed. If the valid mode has been set, the controlleradvances to step S104 and changes the setting to the invalid mode. As aresult, as shown in FIG. 2, the lock mark is displayed by the lockdisplay segment 46 at step S105, and the process is completed. If theinvalid mode has been set before the lock button 5 is pressed at stepS103, the controller advances to step S106 and changes the setting tothe valid mode. The lock mark display is thereby eliminated, as shown inFIG. 2, at step S107, and the process is completed. In addition, todistinguish the valid mode or the invalid mode settings, the data thatdistinguish the setting of either the valid mode or the invalid mode arestored in the memory 10m and when necessary can be read out.

At the time when it is determined that the lock button 5 is not inoperation at step S102, it is determined whether the valid mode has beenset before at step S108. When the valid mode is set, the rotationdirection of the command dial 2 can be determined at step S109.Subsequently, if the rotation is in the clockwise direction (CW), thesetting of the shutter speed is changed to a value one step slower atstep S110, and if the rotation is in the counter clockwise direction(CCW), the setting of the shutter speed is changed to a value one stepfaster at step S111, thus completing the process. When it is determinedthat the invalid mode has been set before at step S108, the shutterspeed is maintained, and the process is completed.

When the exposure mode button is under operation at step S101, thecontroller advances to step S112 shown in FIG. 5, where the rotationdirection of the command dial 2 is determined. After the direction ofthe command dials is determined in S112, the exposure mode setting ischanged in either S113 or S114. If the rotation is in the clockwisedirection (CW), the exposure mode setting is changed at step S113 fromthe present mode to the next mode in the order of M mode, A mode, Smode, and P mode. If the rotation is in the counter-clockwise direction(CCW), the exposure mode is changed at step S114 from the present modeto the next mode in the reverse order of the above, thus completing theprocess.

According to the processes described above, each time the command dial 2is rotated by one click while the lock button 5 is depressed, the validmode and the invalid mode are switched alternately by the processes ofstep S103 through step S107. Subsequently, it is not possible to changethe shutter speed setting during the invalid mode. However, when theexposure mode button 6 is depressed, the exposure mode is changedwithout fail regardless of whether the mode is valid or invalid.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment according to the present invention is explainedhereafter, with reference to FIG. 6. In the second embodiment, theprocess of the previous embodiment differs from that shown in FIG. 5.The identical codes are used for the common components for FIGS. 1-4.The differences are explained below.

In the present embodiment, when the command dial 2 is rotated by oneclick, while the exposure mode button 6 is in operation (when step S101in FIG. 4 is determined affirmatively), a determination is made as towhether the lock button 5 is in operation at step S201. Subsequently, ifthe lock button 5 is in operation, a determination is made as to whetherthe valid mode concerning the setting change of the exposure mode isset. If the valid mode is set, the controller advances to step S203, andthe setting is changed to the invalid mode. Therefore, the exposure modesetting cannot be changed. Subsequently, the lock mark is displayed atstep S204 on the LCD display panel by the lock display segment 46 asshown in FIG. 2, thus completing the process. When the invalid mode isset at step S202, the controller advances to step S205. The setting ischanged to the valid mode, and subsequently, the display of the lockmark, as shown in FIG. 2, is eliminated at step S206, thus completingthe process.

When a determination is made that the lock button 5 is not in operationat step S201, a determination is made as to whether the valid mode isset at step S207. If the valid mode is set, the direction of rotation ofthe command dial 2 is determined at step S208. Subsequently, if therotation is in the clockwise direction (CW), the exposure mode settingat step S209 is changed from the present mode to the next mode in theorder of M mode, A mode, S mode, and P mode. If the rotation is in thecounter-clockwise direction (CCW), the setting of the exposure mode atstep S210 is changed from the present mode to the next mode in reverseof the order described above, thus completing the process. When thesetting of the invalid mode is under way at step S207, the exposure modeis not changed, and the process is completed. In addition, even if thevalid mode and the invalid mode are switched at step S203 or at stepS205, the settings of the valid mode and the invalid mode (process atstep S104 or step S106 in FIG. 4) relating to the shutter speed are notchanged by the switching operation.

According to the processes described above, when the command dial 2 isoperated while the lock button 5 is depressed, each time the commanddial 2 is rotated by one click, the valid mode and the invalid mode forthe setting change of the shutter speed are switched. The switchingoccurs in the same manner as in the previous embodiment. When thecommand dial 2 is operated while the lock button 5 and the exposure modebutton 6 are depressed, the processes advance from step S101 (FIG. 4) tostep S201 and to step S202, and at each time the command dial 2 isrotated by one click, the valid mode and the invalid mode relating tothe exposure mode setting change are switched.

In addition, the second embodiment is applicable in additionalsituations. For instance, the operational component, which is capable oftwo types of operations (for example, two operations of differentdirection), is used in place of the operational component that acceptsonly the single operation (for example, depression operation) such asthe exposure mode button 6. The setting of the first information ischanged in accordance with the connection of the one operation and theoperation of the command dial 2, and the setting of the secondinformation is changed in accordance with the connection of the otheroperation and the operation of the command dial 2.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, it is also appropriateto change steps S103 through S107 shown in FIG. 4 or steps S202 throughS206 to steps S301 through S305 shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, thedirection of rotation of the command dial 2 is determined at step S102shown in FIG. 4 and at step S201 shown in FIG. 6. At step S301, if thedirection is counter-clockwise (CCW), the invalid mode is set at stepS302, and the lock mark is displayed at step S303. If the direction isclockwise (CW), the valid mode is set at step S304 and the display ofthe lock mark is eliminated at step S305. According to the processesdescribed above, regardless of whether the present setting is valid orinvalid, it is possible to switch to the desired mode by operating thecommand dial 2 in the direction of the desired mode. Therefore, it isnot necessary to operate the command dial 2 while confirming the displayof the lock mark.

In yet another embodiment, step S101 is a process for determiningwhether one of the photometric mode buttons 7 through 9 is in operation.Steps S113, S114, S209 and S210 can be processes in response to theswitch function with each button 7 through 9.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the same effect is produced.The above-described connected operation of the command dial 2 with oneof the photometric mode button 7, the exposure correction button 8 orthe sensitivity switch button 9 is carried out. It is also appropriateto carry out the same processes for the sub-command dial 3. In addition,in each embodiment described above, an explanation has been made for thecase in which the related operation of the command dial 2 with theexposure mode button 6 is a simultaneous operation. However, it wouldalso be appropriate to change the details of the connected operation.For example, the setting of the exposure mode could be changed when thecommand dial 2 is operated within an appropriate time (i.e., severalseconds) after depressing the exposure mode button 6. As anotherexample, the device according to the present invention can be applied toa system in which the shutter speed or the diaphragm value and the likeare changed by a slide type switch or a push button type of operationalcomponent in place of the command dial 2.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modificationsand variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forthherein are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the invention as definedin the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A camera having an information setting apparatus thatcontrols the setting of at least a first control information and asecond control information, said information setting apparatuscomprising:a first operational component; a second operational componentdistinct from said first operational component; a setting change devicethat changes the setting of said first control information in responseto an independent operation of said first operational component and thatchanges the setting of said second control information in response to aset of operations of said first and said second operational components;and a switching device capable of switching an operation of said settingchange device between a setting change allowed condition and a settingchange prohibited condition, wherein said switching device is effectivefor controlling only the setting of said first control information andthe setting of said second control information is not prohibited in saidsetting change prohibited condition.
 2. A camera having an informationsetting apparatus that controls the setting of at least first controlinformation and a second control information, said information settingapparatus comprising:a first operational component; a second operationalcomponent distinct from said first operational component; a settingchange device that changes the setting of said first control informationin response to an independent operation of said first operationalcomponent and that changes the setting of said second controlinformation in response to a set of operations of said first and saidsecond operational components; a mode designating device that designatesone of a valid mode and an invalid mode; and a setting change controldevice that allows the setting change of both said first and said secondcontrol information when said valid mode is designated and thatprohibits the setting change of said first control information andallows the setting change of said second control information when theinvalid mode is designated.
 3. The camera according to claim 2, whereinsaid mode designating device comprises;a third operational componentdistinct from said first and second operational components; and adesignation change device that designates one of said valid mode andsaid invalid mode in response to a set of operations of said firstoperational component and said third operational component.
 4. Thecamera according to claim 3, wherein said first operational component isrotatable and said designation change device alternately designates saidvalid mode and said invalid mode every time when said first operationalcomponent is rotated a specified amount while said third operationalcomponent is in operation.
 5. The camera according to claim 3,whereinsaid first operational component is rotatable; said designationchange device designates said valid mode when said first operationalcomponent is operated in one direction while said third operationalcomponent is in operation; and said designation change device designatessaid invalid mode when said first operational component is rotated in areverse direction opposite to said one direction while said thirdoperational component is in operation.
 6. A camera having an informationsetting apparatus that controls the setting of at least a first controlinformation and a second control information, said information settingapparatus comprising:a first operational component; a second operationalcomponent distinct from said first operational component; a thirdoperational component distinct from said first and second operationalcomponents; a mode designating device that designates one of a valid andan invalid mode in response to a set of operations of said first andsaid third operational components; and a control device that operates inaccordance with said designated mode; wherein, when said designated modeis said valid mode, said control device changes the setting of saidfirst control information in response to an independent operation ofsaid first operational component and changes the setting of said secondcontrol information in response to a set of operations of said first andsaid second operational components, and when said designated mode issaid invalid mode, said control device changes the setting of saidsecond control information in response to said set of operations of saidfirst and said second operational components and prohibits the settingof said first control information from changing in response to saidindependent operation of said first operational component.
 7. A camerahaving an information setting apparatus for a camera that controls thesetting of at least a first control information and a second controlinformation, said information setting apparatus comprising:an operationdial; a function designating operational component; a lock operationalcomponent; a setting change device that changes the setting of saidfirst control information in response to an independent operation ofsaid operation dial and that changes said second control information inresponse to a set of operations of said operation dial and said functiondesignating operational component; a mode designating device thatdesignates one of a valid mode and an invalid mode in response to a setof operations of said lock operational component and said operationdial; and a setting change control device that allows the setting changeof both said first and said second control information when said validmode is designated, and that prohibits the setting change of said firstcontrol information and allows the setting change of said second controlinformation when said invalid mode is designated.
 8. The cameraaccording to claim 7, wherein said first control information is one ofshutter speed and diaphragm value.
 9. A camera having an informationsetting apparatus that controls the setting of at least a first controlinformation and a second control information, said information settingapparatus comprising:a first operational component; a second operationalcomponent distinct from said first operational component; setting changemeans for changing the setting of said first control information inresponse to an independent operation of said first operational componentand changing the setting of said second control information in responseto a set of operations of said first said second operational components;and switching means for switching an operation of setting change meansbetween a setting change allowed condition and a setting changeprohibited condition, wherein said switching means is effective forcontrolling only the setting of said first control information and thesetting of said second control information is not prohibited in saidsetting change prohibited condition.
 10. A camera having an informationsetting apparatus that controls the setting of at least a first controlinformation and second control information, said information settingapparatus comprising:a first operational component; a second operationalcomponent distinct from said first operational component; setting changemeans for changing the setting of said first control information inresponse to an independent operation of said first operational componentand for changing the setting of said second control information inresponse to a set of operations of said first and said secondoperational components; mode designating means for designating one of avalid mode and an invalid mode; setting change control means forallowing the setting change of both said first said second controlinformation when said valid mode is designated and for prohibitingsetting change of said first control information while allowing settingchange of said second control information when said invalid mode isdesignated.
 11. The camera according to claim 10, wherein said modedesignating means comprises:a third operational component distinct fromsaid first and second operational components; and designation changemeans for designating one of said valid mode and said invalid mode inresponse to a set of operations of said first operational component andsaid third operational component.
 12. The camera according to claim 11,wherein said first operational component is rotatable and saiddesignation change means alternately designates said valid mode and saidinvalid mode every time when said first operational component is rotateda specified amount while said third operational component is inoperation.
 13. The camera according to claim 11, whereinsaid firstoperational component is rotatable; said designation change meansdesignates said valid mode when said first operational component isoperated in one direction while said third operational component is inoperation; and said designation change means designates said invalidmode when said first operational component is rotated in a reversedirection opposite to said one direction while said third operationalcomponent is in operation.
 14. A camera having an information settingapparatus that controls the setting of at least a first controlinformation and a second control information, said information settingapparatus comprising:a first operational component; a second operationalcomponent distinct from said first operational component; a thirdoperational component distinct from said first and second operationalcomponents; mode designating means for designating one of a valid and aninvalid mode in response to a set of operations of said first and saidthird operational components; and control means for controlling settingchange, in accordance with said designated mode; wherein, when saiddesignated mode is said valid mode, said control means changes thesetting of said first control information in response to an independentoperation of said first operational component and changes the setting ofsaid second control information in response to a set of operations ofsaid first and said second operational components, and when saiddesignated mode is said invalid mode, said control means changes thesetting of said second control information in response to said set ofoperations of said first and second operational components, andprohibits the setting of said first control information from changing inresponse to said independent operation of said first operationalcomponent.
 15. A camera having an information setting apparatus thatcontrols the setting of at least a first control information and asecond control information, said information setting apparatuscomprising:an operation dial; a function designating operationalcomponent; a lock operational component; a setting change means forchanging the setting of the first control information in response to anindependent operation of said operation dial and for changing saidsecond control information in response to a set of operations of saidoperation dial and said function designating operational component; amode designating means for designating one of a valid mode and aninvalid mode in response to a set of operations of said lock operationalcomponent and said operation dial; and a setting change control meansfor allowing the setting change of both said first and said secondcontrol information when said valid mode is designated, and forprohibiting the setting change of said first control information andallowing the setting change of said second control information when saidinvalid mode is designated.
 16. The camera to claim 15, wherein saidfirst control information is one of shutter speed and diaphragm value.17. An information setting method for a camera for controlling thesetting of at least a first control information and a second controlinformation using a first operational component, a second operationalcomponent distinct from said first operational component and a thirdoperational component distinct from said first and second operationalcomponents, said information setting method comprising the stepsof:designating one of a valid mode and an invalid mode in response to aset of operations of said first operational component and said thirdoperational component; controlling setting change in accordance withsaid designated mode; wherein, when said designated mode is said validmode, the setting of said first control information is changed inresponse to an independent operation of said first operational componentand the setting of said second control information is changed inresponse to a set of operations of said first and said secondoperational components, and when said designated mode is said invalidmode, the setting of said second control information is changed inresponse to said set of operations of said first and said secondoperational components and the setting of said first information isprohibited from changing in response to said independent operation. 18.The information setting method according to claim 17, wherein said firstoperational component is rotatable and said valid mode and said invalidmode are alternately designated as said designated mode every time whensaid first operational component is rotated a specified amount whilesaid third operational component is in operation.
 19. The camerainformation setting method of claim 17, whereinsaid first operationalcomponent is rotatable; said valid mode is designated when said firstoperational component is operated in one direction while said thirdoperational component is in operation; and said invalid mode isdesignated when first operational component is rotated in a reversedirection opposite to said one direction while said third operationalcomponent is in operation.